According to the latest report from our Wireless Smartphone Strategies (WSS) service: Global Smartphone Sales Forecast by 19 Technologies (Air Interface): 2007 to 2022, LTE-Advanced technology will surpass LTE being the largest sub-category in 2017, with nearly half of volume share. It will maintain the leading position before 5G enabled smartphone ramping up volumes.

LTE-Advanced smartphones are gaining momentum across developed and technology-driven market such as the US, China, Japan and South Korea. China remains the largest LTE-Advanced smartphone market at this moment, the leading position will maintain till 2022. OPPO, Huawei, vivo and Xiaomi are key players in this segment.

We predict 5G enabled smartphones will emerge from 2019, but it will start to ramp up volumes from 2021 onwards.

Our report forecasts global smartphone sales by 19 technologies from 2007 through 2022. The report is a valuable tool for component vendors, device manufacturers, operators and other stakeholders who want to map the future penetration of 3G, 4G and 5G protocols in the high-growth smartphone category.